[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 4 (Monday, January 29, 2001)]
[Pages 219-221]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Prior to a Meeting With Bipartisan Congressional Leaders and an 
Exchange With Reporters

January 24, 2001

Legislative Agenda

    The President. I'm honored to host the leaders of the Senate and the 
House. I want to thank you all for coming. I really, really appreciate 
it. This is the sixth meeting I've had with legislators since I've been 
sworn in. It is a habit I intend to keep, because I understand the best 
way to advance an agenda for the country is to work together.
    I hope people are now beginning to realize that when I said the 
executive branch is willing to work with the legislative branch and do 
what's right for the country, it's not hollow words; it's what I believe 
we need to do.
    Expectations are that we can't come together to get things done. Our 
mission is to

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exceed the expectations. So I want to thank you all so much for coming. 
We're going to have a frank dialog about a lot of issues, and I'm going 
to start by reminding that we know the difference between the executive 
branch and the legislative branch, but I do believe the President and 
the Vice President can play a part, a strong part, in helping advance an 
American agenda.
    So thanks for coming. I'd be glad to answer a few questions.

Attorney-General-Designate John Ashcroft

    Q. Sir, I'm wondering about the Ashcroft confirmations. There seems 
to be little question that he's going to be confirmed, and yet there's 
this one week delay. I'm wondering, what do you think Democrats are 
doing?
    The President. I think they're making sure that when they confirm 
him all questions have been answered.

Efforts at Bipartisanship

    Q. Sir, where is the common ground on the issues that really divide 
the two sides, specifically the size of your tax cut and on school 
vouchers? How can you possibly reach agreement on those two issues?
    The President. We'll just have to see. That's part of what a dialog 
is all about. I think that it's important for me to explain my position. 
It's important for me to hear other's positions. It's important for me 
to understand where there's resistance and why. But it all happens with 
good, honest discussion, a frank discussion about positions.
    I look forward to explain to any Member that's concerned about tax 
relief and why, why I proposed it. And I think the evidence is going to 
become more and more clear that the economy is--it's not as hopeful as 
we'd like, which I hope will strengthen my case.
    Q. Mr. President, you talked about frank and honest discussions. Are 
you willing to give on either one of those issues, or is there a----
    The President. Well I'm certainly not willing to negotiate with 
myself. [Laughter] Particularly in your column. [Laughter]

Legislative Agenda on Education

    Q. You talked about bipartisanship, sir, but you've also issued 
legislation or legislative proposals prior to meeting with the Democrats 
to work on negotiations. Does that imply that you want them to just take 
your positions and pass them?
    The President. It is in recognition of what a Presidential campaign 
is all about. I don't believe Dick and I would be sitting here had we 
not taken strong positions on key issues. And I told the American people 
if I had the honor of being the President, I would submit those 
positions I was campaigning on to the legislative branch, and that's 
exactly what I've done.
    So if you look at the education proposals we submitted to the 
Congress, those are based on what I campaigned on. That's exactly what I 
told the people I would do, and that's what I'm here to remind the 
Members of the Congress. That's what I am going to do. And I can't wait 
to have an honest discussion about education, for example, the 
cornerstone of which is strong accountability.
    And I'm going to make the case here, and I'll continue to make the 
case to anybody who will listen that in order to make sure every child 
is educated--I mean every child--we must measure--we must understand 
whether or not children are learning, because the likelihood of poor 
children being shuffled through the system is increased if we don't 
measure.
    And I hope we can find people--I hope people will listen, because I 
feel passionately on the subject.
    Q. Sir, would you be--a proposal that didn't include----
    The President. John [John Roberts, CBS News], it's a pleasure. One 
question per session.

Note: The President spoke at 9:25 a.m. in the Cabinet Room at the White 
House. A tape was not available for verification of the content of these 
remarks.

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